Belt buckle



Dec. 19, 1922.

S. M. BIKER.

BELT BUCKLE. msu sur. 2. 1922.

INVENTOR.

RNEYS.

Patented Dec. 19, 1922.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL M. RIKER. OF CHESTER, NEW JERSEY.

BELT BUCKLE.

, .Application tiled September y2, 1922.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l. :SAMUEL M. Ruins. a citizen of the United States3 residing at Chester, in the county of Morris and State 5 of New Jersey., Yhave invented certain new ,and useful Improvements in Belt Buckles;

and I do hereby vdeclare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such .as will enable others skilled in the :art ,to which .it appertains to make :and `use the same, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, and to characters ol reference marked thereon. which form .a :part of this specification.

This invention rrelates to improvements in belt buckles; and .the invention has reterence, more particularly. to a novel clampplate adapted Fto be actuated by a pivoted cam-lever, said clamp-,plate being provided with a novel .arrangement and construction of belt-biting or :gripping elements.

The invention has for its principal object to Aprovide a belt buckle with a novel cam actuated clamp-plate having a peculiarly constructed belt-biting or gripping structure .at its free end portion wheueby said freelend portion will yieldallil-y cooperate with the actuatine Vcam when encountering extra thick or hardbeltmeinbers, so as to avoid placingr undue-stl-ainsaipon tbc cam device or thepivotal connections of ,the latter with the buckle body (which strains tend to either distort the cani device or dislodge the same from opreratiue pivotal relation to the buckle Lbody). and yet will nevertheless cause tbc biting or .gripping elements at said tree end portion .of the clamp-plate to firmly and securely grip or bite tbe belt member so as to retain .the latter in desired adjusted fastened relation about the waist ot ille wearer.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the aci'tolnpanying drawings. in which Fig. l is a central longitudinal sectlon of the novel improved belt buckle made aceordinfer to and embodyingr tbe principles of this invention; Fia. L is a transverse section. taken on line ein in said Fig. l. abou ingr the actuating;r cani io operative relation lo tbc clamp-plate: Fig; Il is a similar trans verse section. showingT the actuating cam in released relation `to the clamp-plate; Fig.

Y4 is a `plan view ot the novel construction of 4lainp-pliltc removed .from the buckle asf Serial No. 555,986.

sembly; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary central longitudinal section, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, but illustra/ting a modified arrangement for mounting `tbe novel clampplate, and also illustrating a. modied form ot' actuating cam; and Fig. .6 is a `perspective view of a modified form of Athe novel clamp-plate.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all ot' the hereinabove described views`y to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the drawings, the novel construction of `belt buckle comprises a main body consisting olf' a face or front-,plate Y (curved longitudinally as shown .if desired), side flanges 8 springing rearwardly from the longitudinal margins 'of said tace or front plate, and inwardly bent keeper flanges 9 connected with tbe margins of said side flanges to lie in aplane substantially parallel to and spaced rearwardly from the plane of said face or :front plate 7. Said side flanges 8 are provided at one of their ends with rearwardly ,projecting perforate ears or extensions 10. Said keeper flanges 9 terminate short of said ears vor extensions 1()`r thereby providing laterally disposed shoulders 11 adjacent to sai ears or extensions 10.

Pivotally connected between said earsor extensions 10. is a clamp-plate actuating cam device. the same comprising a transverse bar 12 having journal `portions 1? projecting trom its respective ends. Said transverse bar 12 is mounted to extend transversely between said ears or extensions 1f). with its journal portions 13 pivoted in the pertorations .or openings of said ears or extensions. Tntegrallv connected with said transverse vbar 12 is an outwardly projecting lever portion 1.4. whicb is preferably ol loop form to provide an openingr 1'5 at its free end to receive the loop 16 ot the attached end `ot' the belt member. lntefrrally connected with the central portion ot' said bar 12 is a cam-member i7'. which is doubled beneatb the bar to eecentrically otlset tbe saine relative to the axis ot said bar. Said eam-member may spring trom the forward edge ot said bar (las shown in Figs. 1. Q. and 3l. or the same may spring from the rearward edge otsaid bar (as shown in Fig. 5).y as may be `deemed desirable. The outer or oiwixilline l'avr of said ram iuensher li l\ vided with a frooiml or vhaunehil `wat ld extending arrose' the same. (see hie: Il).

The novel Clamp-plate (to he :nihsequently desrrihed in detail) nia)Y he pivotallv atlarlied tti pivotal supporting` inelnhers il), surh a chown in Figs. 1` 2. and Il, and the purpose and l'unrtioniin f oi nllirh are dearly desrrihed in in); prior appliiation lor United States Letter Patent. tiled lfehruar)Y lll, i922, l""erial Nv. 5311i?? l5: or the ,said novel damp-plate may he pirotallji' atarhed direetlj: hetween the ears or extensions l0 at points` spared rearn'aiallir troni the pivotal onneetin'n ot' thi? aetuating rain Ilyriee1 as Shown in Fig. ln either (uw. it is preferahle to pii'ot or tulrrum said Clampplate upon :i transverse rod 2th although it will he underetood that other terms; ol' pird otal mounting' or Connections tloretor may he provided.

The reference rharaeter 2l iudieates the novel ClamD-iolate,y haringr at its rearward end a hearing portion for pivotally engaging: the same upon said transverse rod 20. Said rlamp-plate l extends outwardly or forwardlyY beneath said h-.lr and its eam-n1en1her li" with its tree enfl portion terminating adjaeent to 'the adjoining lateral margin ot said tare or troni-plate T. The lateral edge o'l1 said tree end portion olA said 'l:ii1i[; lille Ll is Formed to provide at its` respertive outer portion` :nljaeent 'to the longitlnliniil sides ot the olamp'gilate. a pair ol' in\\\'ardlm\y turned edge niemhers 2: adapted to form heit-biting or gfriiniiimv elo ments. and said lateral edgre ol Said 'tree end portion is formed to provide a raised Yieldable edge-portion 2l which is outrvardl)v oit'- set from the plane ol said inwardlyY turned edge rnemhers and which extends laterall'v intermediate the saine so :n: to he aliued with and lie iu the pathotino\e||1ent1ofthe f-aiu'meiuher iT. ln forming' the Vesper-tive edge meinhers Ll and ),'ieldahle edge-portion ll the `saine may he shaped h die operation so as to merge or curve one into the other` as shown in Figs. l to 5 inelusire. or the edge portion ol the slamp-plate may he lone'itullinallr slit intermediate the edge memller` lil and yiehlahh i-ilggi {orliou Jl :isl ,damn iu Vigv l'` Formed iu liu,` lnlfll'i ot :will ijiaiuprplale ill lo the i'ear ol' the lilee end i'ioitir'm thrieotw i a laterali),` lrrilenllilig"lr lm'h ril 1725 u lill u'liill: tln r'lrfimiul o!" 'lialiY neled leal IS ot th(` vaio mrmhrr l? if. .le sikgiuwl lo iutor|orl \\\'h=|| will mim uuiuher is maxed luto arlllaliuf;- euezueuwui with said rla|ni i1late.

ll'hen the lewr noitiou i! i. .swung in a rounterrloiliwise 'lireetion. the` eanrmrmhzr lT is moved away from the Clamp-plate 2l, thus freeing' the latter troni operative Clamping engagement with the tree or adjustable end Q6 of the heit memberl leaving thilatler but loosely engaged h y the Clamp-- plate so that the same may be Withdrawn l'rom the huf'kle.

When fastening the belt member about, the Waist of the wearer, the l'ree or adjustahle end 26 is inserted hetn'een the side flanges 8 to pass forwardl)Y through the space intermediate the fare or tront plate T and the keeper flanges IL and thenee heneath the clamp-plate 2l, the ram nieniher 1T her iner at the time released trom artuating' en- `agement with said elaini'u-plate. When the belt member is adjusted to desired tension about the waist oi' the Wearem the lever portion 14 is swung in clockwise direrl'ion to move the Cani-member i7 into actuating enH g'aggement with the end ot' the clamp-plate until the cam-member seat 18 interloeks with the look rib 25 of the clamp-plate. This op erative movement of the cam-member 17 presses or swings the free end of the clampplate towards the helt end 26 thereby tortng the biting or gripping elements formed hy the inwardlyY turned edge members 23 into biting or gripping engagement with said belt end. Before the cam-member t7 attains its interlooked relation to the clampplate 2l, its tree end moves in passing engagement with the iree edge portion of the (-lainlrplate. It said free edge portion possesses a routinuous inwardly turned biting` or grippingggl edge, and it the helt member happens to be extra thirk or made ol Very tmig'h or unyieldinp; material. suoli. for example, as bridle-leather, a very considerable resistance to the inward swing of the clampplate is encountered. which is transmitted to the cam-member with the result that the latter or the bar carrying the same is trequently distorted or bent out of shape, or the har is dislocated from its operative pivotal Connection with the main hodyv ot the lmekle. Sueh ooeurrenees are avoided however iu the present invention, since the tree edge portion of my novel construction of (damp-plate provides the inwardly turned or hitting edge-niemhers 221 onliY towards the sides ot thecla'r1ip-pl:ite` and that part of said edgeportion intermediate said biting rdgfomenihers Qfl is formed to provide the outwardl \v ott'vset )'ioldahle odge-portion 2l whirh alone is engaged hy the passing r'anlnuniher, qurh otlset Vieldahle edge non tion 134 is approximately el' the saine width as the vainmemher. aud is hy virtue oF its offset relation to tht` hitiuu edgememhm-g fl held away from eugagenioul with the hellend 2th eousequentllv when the ramniemher thrusts the hiting edgeauemhers 2?. into engagement with an extra thick or re sistant belt member. `said lyieldahle edge-portion will slightlyv spring or `yield to the thrust of the cam-member so that the extra strain is compensated for, and the likelihood of deformation or dislocation of the carnllO lftl

1 ,amaze morberfunder such stradario eliminated. will thus be aqgiparent tahfat fthe heilt bvueide structure ,as a whole, more readily adapts itself tor use 'with varioirs kinds and thicknesses of belt members without danger ot such structure being reisnieretl irmrpmative.

I am aware that some icltainges may be made in the various arrangieimnts and combinations of the devices and parts,r as well as in the details ot the ronstruction ol tbe same, Without departing 'from the scope otthis invention as set forth in the foregoing specification1 and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, l do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as described in said speciications nor do l confine royan-dt' to the exact details oi the construction ot said parts as illustrated in the accompanyin drawings.

1. A belt buckle comprising a main body.y a pivoted cam-member havingY an actuating lever portion, pivoted clamp-plate having its free end portion extending' between the front portion of said main body and said cam-member, said clamp-plate havingr inwardly turned biting means at its free end,y and a yieldable outwardly ott-set portion also at its free end and alim-d iu the path ol' movement ot' said cam-member.

2. A belt buckle comprisingl a main body, a pivoted cam-member havingV an actuating` lever portion, a pivoted clamp-plate having its free end portion extending between tbe front portion ot said main body and said cam-member, said clamp-plate having inwardly turned biting edge members formed adjacent to the ends oit its transverse free edge portion, and a yieldable outwardly cti'- set edge portion inti-rmediate said biting edge members and aliued iu the path of movement ot' said cam-member.

3. A belt buckle comprising' a main body. a pi voted earn-member having an actuating lever portion, a pivoted clamp-plate having its free end portion extending' between the trent portion ot said main body and said cari-member, said clamp-plate having inwardly turned bitingV edge members formed adjacent to the ends otite' transverse free edge portion. a iieldal'ile outwardly off-Set edge portion intermediate said biting edge members and` alined in tbe path of movement of said cam-member. and means mutually associated with said rlamp-'ilate and said cam-member to interlock the same in their operated relation one to tbe other.

el'. belt buckle comprising a main body, a pivoted cani-member baviimj an actuatingr lever portion. a pivoted clamp-plate having its tree end portion extending' between the front portieri of said main body and said cam-member, said clamp-plate having inwardly turned biting means at its free end,

ra gvielda'ble outwardiy-oti-set portion also at "its tree end and alined in 'the rpath oi' movement 'et sai-'l Crm1-mouiller.and means mutually associated with said clamp-plate and said ram-member ato interlock the saine in their oprrnted relation one to the other.

o. A 'belt buckle comlprisinfa' a main body. a pivotrd rain-member harina' au actuating lever portion, pivoted supporting arms capable ot a limited movement toward and away from tbe front portion of said main body,y a clamp-plate carried by said supporting' arms with its free end portion eX- tendingbetween said earn-member and said trout portion of said main lziodyy said clampplate having' inwardly turned bitingr means at its l'i'ec end1 and a ii'ieldable outwardly olli-set portion also at its 'tree end and alined in the path of movement ot said cammember.

6. belt buckle comprising' a main body, a pivoted cam-member having an actuating lever portion` pivotcd supporting arms capable ot a limited movement toward and away from tbe liront portion ot said main body a 'lamp-plate carried by said supportin e arm s with its free end portion extendingr between said cam-member and said front portion ol` said main body, said clamp-plate hai iup' inwardly turned bitingmeans at its tree ouah :i rieldable outwardly oit-set portion also at its tree end and alined in the path ol' moremeut o'll said cam-member, and means mutually associated with said clampplate and said cam-member to interlock the same in their operated relation one to the other.

i". fr belt buckle comprisinpj a main body, a pivoted cam-member having' an actuating;r levrr portion. pivoted supporting' arms capable of a limited movement toward and away i'rosu the lront portion ot said main body a clamp-plate carried by said supporting arms with its free end portion extending between said ram-member and said front pori ion ol' said main body` said rlainp-plate having inwardly turned bitingV edge members formed ad'aeent to the ends ot its transverse edge portion. and a yieldablo outwardly ofset edge portion intermediate said biting,r edge members and aliued in llie path ot nloierunt oiV `mid ram-member.

d. ill-'lt burlile f'oioprising a main bodym a piroted cam-member harina an actuating lever portion` piroted supporting arms rapable of a limited movement toward and a ay troni tbe l'ront portion ot said main body a (damp-plato carried by said supportiue; arms with its i'ree end portion extendim; between said mini-member and said iront portion ot said main body said clamp-plate having' inwardly turned biting edge members formed adjacent to the ends of its transverse edge portion.y a yieldable outwardly off-set edge portion intermediate llt) Suid biting odge mPmbers and alined in the fovth above IA have` hereunto set my hand imh oi' mmomont of Said Pam-member, and this 29th day of August, 1922. mmm mutually :msociated with Said Clamp- 7 plate amil said cam-member t0 interlock the SAMUEL M' RHXEB" 5 Szmw in thir operated relation one to the fitnessesz othvr. GEORGE 1). RICHARDS,

In testimony that I claim the invention set, DORA WALZ. 

